College Students Use of Coping Strategies while facing Mental Health Challenges during Covid 19 Pandemic

Authors

  • G. Daniel Dayananda Rao Spicer Adventist University, Pune
  • Antara Thakur University of Mumbai image/svg+xml
  • Solomon Renati University of Mumbai image/svg+xml

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.37506/pgqm9z91

Keywords:

Pandemic; Coping strategies; Mental health; Depression; Anxiety

Abstract

Background: The Covid-19 pandemic led to several mental health challenges. Among students’ depression and anxiety were the most common. This study explores the coping strategies in dealing with depression and anxiety among college students during COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Using a descriptive design with a stratified sample of 702 students aged 18 and 25 years were enlisted for data collection from Pune. Standardized measures like Hopkins Symptoms Check List, Shortened Ways of Coping and Brief RCOPE were administered. Conclusion: Findings indicate a significant negative correlation between positive religious coping and depression (r = -.14**, p<.01), significant negative correlation between positive religious coping and anxiety (r = -.17**, p<.01). A significant negative relationship between practical thinking and depression (r= -.11**, p<.01) and a significant negative relationship between practical thinking and anxiety (r= -.16**, p<.01). In conclusion, exploring coping strategies helps in identifying the effective strategies in dealing with mental health challenges and in developing interventions.

 

 

Author Biographies

  • G. Daniel Dayananda Rao, Spicer Adventist University, Pune

    Head, Department of Sociology, Spicer Adventist University, Pune, India.

  • Antara Thakur, University of Mumbai

    Research Scholar, Department of Applied Psychology and Counseling Centre, University of Mumbai

  • Solomon Renati, University of Mumbai

     Professor in Psychology, Department of Applied Psychology and Counseling Centre, University of Mumbai.

References

Velavan TP, Meyer CG. The COVID‐19 epidemic. Trop Med Int Health. 2020;25(3):278.

Daniel J. Education and the COVID-19 pandemic. Prospects. 2020;49(1):91-96.

UNESCO. Available from: https://en.unesco.org/covid19/educationresponse

Lei L, Huang X, Zhang S, Yang J, Yang L, Xu M. Comparison of prevalence and associated factors of anxiety and depression among people affected by versus people unaffected by quarantine during the COVID-19 epidemic in Southwestern China. Med Sci Monit. 2020;26: e924609.

Khan AH, Sultana MS, Hossain S, Hasan MT, Ahmed HU, Sikder MT. The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on mental health & wellbeing among home-quarantined Bangladeshi students: a cross-sectional pilot study. J Affect Disord. 2020;277:121-128.

Pargament K, Feuille M, Burdzy DC. The Brief RCOPE: Current Psychometric Status of a Short Measure of Religious Coping. Religions. 2011;2(1):51-76.

Hebert R, Zdaniuk B, Schulz R, Scheier M. Positive and negative religious coping and well-being in women with breast cancer. J Palliat Med. 2009;12(6):537-545.

Ahles JJ, Mezulis AH, Hudson MR. Religious coping as a moderator of the relationship between stress and depressive symptoms. Psychol Relig Spiritual. 2016;8(2):131-142.

Braam AW, Schrier AC, Tuinebreijer WC, Beekman ATF, Dekker JJM, de Wit MAS. Religious coping and depression in multicultural Amsterdam: A comparison between native Dutch citizens and Turkish, Moroccan, and Surinamese/Antillean migrants. J Affect Disord. 2010;125(1–3):269-278.

Ahrens CE, Abeling S, Ahmad S, Hinman J. Spirituality and well-being: The relationship between religious coping and recovery from sexual assault. J Interpers Violence. 2010;25(7):1242-1263.

Abu-Raiya H, Pargament KI, Krause N, Ironson G. Robust links between religious/spiritual struggles, psychological distress, and well-being in a national sample of American adults. J Behav Med. 2015;38(1):118-128.

Pirutinsky S, Cherniak AD, Rosmarin DH. COVID-19, mental health, and religious coping among American Orthodox Jews. J Relig Health. 2020;59(5):2288-2301.

Areba EM, Duckett L, Robertson C, Savik K. Religious coping, symptoms of depression and anxiety, and well-being among Somali college students. J Relig Health. 2017;57(1):94-109. doi: 10.1007/s10943-017-0359-3.

Yaqoob N, Khan M. Patterns of depression, anxiety symptoms and coping styles among early and late adolescent students. Pak Armed Forces Med J. 2014;64(4):573-577.

Pozzi G, Frustaci A, Tedeschi D, Solaroli S, Grandinetti P, Di Nicola M, Janiri L. Coping strategies in a sample of anxiety patients: Factorial analysis and associations with psychopathology. Brain Behav. 2015;5(8):e00383.

Son C, Hegde S, Smith A, Wang X, Sasangohar F. Effects of COVID-19 on college students' mental health in the United States: Interview survey study. J Med Internet Res. 2020;22(9):e21279.

Kleppang AL, Hagquist C. The psychometric properties of the Hopkins Symptom Checklist-10: a Rasch analysis based on adolescent data from Norway. Fam Pract. 2016;33(6):740-745.

Derogatis LR, Lipman RS, Rickels K, Uhlenhuth EH, Covi L. Hopkins Symptom Checklist (HSCL). In: Derogatis LR, editor. The SCL-90-R and the Hopkins Symptom Checklist (HSCL): A User’s Guide. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University; 1974.

Hatton C, Emerson E. The development of a shortened ‘ways of coping questionnaire for use with direct care staff in learning disability services. Ment Handicap Res. 1995;8(4):237-251.

Majumder S. Socioeconomic status scales: Revised Kuppuswamy, BG Prasad, and Udai Pareekh’s scale updated for 2021. J Fam Med Prim Care. 2021;10(11):3964-3967. doi: 10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_600_21.

Radhakrishnan M, Nagaraja SB. Modified Kuppuswamy socioeconomic scale 2023: stratification and updates. Int J Community Med Public Health. 2023;10:4415-4418.

Singh T, Sharma S, Nagesh S. Socio-economic status scales updated for 2017. Int J Res Med Sci. 2017;5(7):3264-3267.

Saleem SM, Jan SS. Modified Kuppuswamy socioeconomic scale updated for the year 2021. Indian J Forensic Community Med. 2021;8(1):1-3.

Assari S. Chronic medical conditions and major depressive disorder: Differential role of positive religious coping among African Americans, Caribbean Blacks, and non-Hispanic Whites. Int J Prev Med. 2014;5(4):405-413.

Carpenter TP, Laney T, Mezulis A. Religious coping, stress, and depressive symptoms among adolescents: A prospective study. Psychol Relig Spiritual. 2012;4(1):19-30.

Feder A, Ahmad S, Lee EJ, Morgan JE, Singh R, Smith BW, Charney DS. Coping and PTSD symptoms in Pakistani earthquake survivors: Purpose in life, religious coping and social support. J Affect Disord. 2013;147(1-3):156-163.

Etesam F, Bafrani MA, Akbarpour S, Tarighatnia H, Rajabi G, Dolatshahi M, Vahabi Z. Depression, anxiety and coping responses among Iranian healthcare professionals during the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Outbreak. Iran J Psychiatry. 2022;17(4):285-292. doi: 10.18502/ijps.v17i4.1069.

Downloads

Published

2025-06-07

How to Cite

College Students Use of Coping Strategies while facing Mental Health Challenges during Covid 19 Pandemic. (2025). Indian Journal of Public Health Research & Development, 16(3), 124-129. https://doi.org/10.37506/pgqm9z91